Improvement in weather-strips



0. W. BDUTH..

Weather-Strips.

Patented Dec. 16,1873.

lNVENTRu UNITED STATES PATENT OEEIOEo OLIVER W. BOOTH, OF PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND.

IMPROVEMENT IN WEATHER=STRlPS Specicationforming part ofLetters Patent No.145,616,datcd December 16, 1873; application filed July a, 1813.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, OLIVER W. BOOTH, of the city and county of Providence, in the State of Rhode Island, have invented certain new and .useful Improvements in Teather- Strips 5 and declare the following to be a specification thereof.

In the accompanying drawings like letters indicate like parts.

Figure l shows the external appearance of my invention as fastened to the bottom of a door. Fig. 2 shows the working parts of the device. Fig. 3 is a transverse section of the weather-strip.

My improvement relates to that class of weather-strips which are automatically Operated vertically by the movement of the door in the act of closing.

My invention consists in a certain novel construction of the operative parts thereof, and combining therewith a reversible actuating-bolt, by means of which my improved weather-strip may be readily applied to either a right-hand or left-hand door.

The mechanism is placed at the bottom of the door and upon the inner side, and is concealed within the case A, which is fastened to the door by screws a a., as shown. A bolt or rod, B, projects from the case A, having a beveled face, which strikes against the catch O. This catch has a slot, b, through which passes the screw which keeps the catch in place upon the door-frame. The bolt B terminates in a triangular block or wedge, D. As the bolt is pressed inwardly by the catch O, the wedge D strikes against the guide c,

-which is firmly attached to the case A, while the opposite face of the wedge forces downward the block E. This block is 'slotted and moves perpendicularly along the elongated pin d, which is permanently connected with the outer case A. The block E, being thus coniined, can have only a vertical motion, and, being connected firmly by a riveted `joint to the weather-strip F, communicates the vertical motion to it, and thus the aperture beneath thedoor is closed. As the block E descends it forces down the springsGrG,which lie beneath it on both sides and are set in the usual manner, being sprung against the pin c and block f. Vhen the door is opened, the bolt B is no longer crowded back by the catch C, and by the power of the springs, as they resume their horizontal position, the block E is pressed upward and the bolt B thrust out.

The purpose of the slot b in the catch C is to allow an adjustment of the catch, and so regulate the distance to which the weatherstrip shall descend; The nearer the catch is moved toward the door, the more does it crowd in the boltB as the door closes. A slight change in the position of the catch increases Or diminishes, as the case may be, the movement of the weather-strip F much more. By this contrivance, if the frill of the weatherstrip has become worn and serves its purpose poorly,the strip can be made to fall still lower and tightly close the aperture.

In weather-strips, as usually made and applied, the rubber or leather is dragged upon the oor, becomes worn by the friction, and is unserviceable Mine has no horizontahbut only a perpendicular, motion, and cannot be thus injured. The mechanism is simple and not liable to get out of order.

The case A is made of brass or other suitable metal, and, without being specially prepared, may be easily fitted to any size or width of door by being out at any desired length. The case is completed by the cappieces H H, each of which has an aperture, through which the bolt -B may pass, so that the case thus constructed is adapted to doors opening on either side.

The doors of railway-cars are particularly subjected to violent concussion,not only by improper usage, but especially by atmospheric pressure, caused by the rapid movement of the car. The case serves not only to strengthen the parts, but prevents injury to the mechanism, which would inevitably be occasioned by the frequent slamming of the door, but for this protection.

rlhe block E is actuated by two springs, G Gr, in its upward movement. One spring will answer the purpose. I use two to meet the contingency of breakage or displacement.

I claim as a novel and useful invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent- The combination of a vertically-operating weather-strip and its supporting-spring with the reversible actuating-bolt, provided with an inclined face at its inner end, substantially as described, and arranged to engage with and depress the strip, as and for the purposes 'specified OLIVER W. BOOTH. Witnesses:

ALBERT A. HAwKrNs', ROBERT E. MINKLER. 

